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The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem
The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem is here in full — 268 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.
Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.
CAP.
XXIII.
OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem is here in full — 268 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.
Line 2
Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.
Line 3
CAP.
/kæp/
Line 4
XXIII.
Line 5
OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.
/ʌv ðə dərˈekt ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən ʌv ˈneɪtʃər/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

according adjective US /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading “Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.”

astronomy noun US /əˈstrɑːnəmi/

the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole

From this reading “Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.”

cap noun US /kæp/

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading “CAP.”

direct verb US /dərˈekt/

command with authority

From this reading “OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.”

doth auxiliary verb US /dɔːθ/

an old form of “does”

From this reading “Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.”

nature noun US /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading “OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.”

operation noun US /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/

the state of being in effect or being operative

From this reading “OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.”

reason noun US /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading “Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

By reason preposition + noun

In this reading “Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.”

All words in this reading · 51

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

apparaunce

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

astronomynounUS /əˈstrɑːnəmi/

the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

astronomyer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

balauns

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

CAPnounUS /kæp/

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading CAP.

chyef

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

DIRECTverbUS /dərˈekt/

command with authority

From this reading OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.

dothauxiliary verbUS /dɔːθ/

an old form of “does”

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

dyd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

entent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

fulfyll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

hym

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

lytle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

maner

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

mone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

NATUREnounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

OPERATIONnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/

the state of being in effect or being operative

From this reading OF THE DIRECT OPERATION OF NATURE.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

selfe

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

sterre

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

sunne

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

ThusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

thyng

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

thynges

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

vayne

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

weyed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

wyll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

Wythouten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll, As astronomy doth make apparaunce, By reason he weyed all thynges in balauns.

XXIIInoun

the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-two and one

From this reading XXIII.

yll

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thus God hym selfe is chyef astronomyer, That made all thyng according to his wyll; The sunne, the mone, and every lytle sterre, To a good entent and for no maner of yll.

Chapter 4 of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem by Stephen, -1523? Hawes holds 268 sentences, grouped into 54 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 4 of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem contain?

Chapter 4 holds 268 sentences of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem by Stephen, -1523? Hawes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 268 sentences, grouped into 54 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 4 of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

Common questions about reading The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem by Stephen, -1523? Hawes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem?

Yes. All 1604 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58037 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58037, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem take to read?

About 133 minutes of reading across 321 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem section by section

How to work through The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Percy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Society
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Early
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
English
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.